Sun-bathing device



1965 L. P. KESSMAN 3,170,172

SUN-BATHING DEVICE Filed Dec. v. 1961 INVENTOR. Lees/v f? kzssmw War A TTORNE Y5 United States Patent The invention relates to a device for supporting a sun-bather in such a Way as to increase his exposure to the sun and consists particularly in an air-mattress for this purpose.

Conventionally, sun-bathing only permits exposure of upwardly-facing surfaces of the body to the rays of the To achieve a uniform tanning of the body, it is sun. necessary for a sun-bather to turn over and from side to side.

It is the object of this invention to provide a device for supporting sun-bathers in such a way that upwardlyfacing and downwardly-facing surfaces of their bodies will be uniformly exposed to the suns rays simultaneously, whereby to reduce the time required for tanning and eliminate the need for frequent changes of position.

A further object is to provide an air mattress for sunbathers by means of which the upwardly-facing and downwardly-facing surfaces of their bodies may be simultaneously exposed to the suns rays.

Other detailed objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mattress embodying the invention, showing a sun-b ather reclining on 'it.

FIG. -2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of the mattress along line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 1 refers generally to a mattress consisting of a top wall 3 of transparent flexible material, a bottom wall 5 of flexible material and having on its upper surface a reflective coating 7 whereby the suns rays passing through the transparent top wall 3 are reflected upwardly against the lower surface of the body B of a sun-bather reclining on the top wall. Top Wall 3 and bottom wall 5 are bonded respectively at 9 and 11 to the upper and lower boundaries of an upright peripheral wall 13, .also of flexible material, to form an airtight chamber. Peripheral wall 13 mounts an air valve 15 of the type conventionally used in automobile tires, air mattresses, and other inflatable devices, whereby mattress 1 can be charged with suflicient air to maintain the spacing of the top and bottom Walls of the mattress. To insure that 'the top and bottom walls will be held in substantially uniformly spaced relation with each other when the mattress is inflated, a plurality of internal vertical walls 17 of transparent material similar to that of top wall 3 are bonded to top wall 3 and bottom wall 5 and are spaced apart from each other and from the peripheral wall 13 to provide a plurality of communicating compartments. When the mattress is not in use, it can easily be deflated and rolled or folded for storage or transportation.

Operation of the device is as follows: The mattress is sufliciently inflated so that the sun-bather B, irrespective mam Patented Feb. 23, i965 of his Weight, will be supported at a substantial distance above lower wall 5. When the sun-bather B reclines, on his back, for example, on the upper surface of-top wall 3, the suns rays which pass through the area of the transparent top wall not covered by the sun-bathers body are reflected upwardly (FIG. 2) to strike the downwardlyfacing surfaces of the users body.

FIG, 3 illustrates a modified form of the invention, in which the mattress structure is simplified by the elimination of separate vertical walls. in this embodiment the mattress, generally indicated at 21, consists of a top wall 25, of flexible transparent material, anda bottom wall 25 of flexible material, provided on its upper side with a reflective coating 27. Top Wall 23 and bottom wall 25 are bonded to each other throughout their peripheries, as at 29, and are bonded to each other along lines parallel to their sides, as at 31, to form a plurality of communicating compartment-s similar in functionto the compartments into which the first embodiment of the invention is divided by means of internal walls 17. Operation of the mattress illustrated in FIG. 3 is similar to that of the mattress of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The details of the construction may be varied substantially without aflecting the novel features as described and the exclusive use of those modifications as come Within the scope of the appendedclaims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for supporting a sun-bather comprising spaced top and bottom Walls of flexible material, 'said top wall being of transparent material and said bottom wall having a reflective upper surface, said walls being connected to each other at their peripheries to form a sealed chamber, the spacing of said Walls being effected by inflation of said chamber.

2. A. device according to claim 1 in which a flexible wall substantially at right angles to the general planes of said top and bottom walls forms the peripheral connection between said top and bottom walls;

3. A device according to claim 1 in which said top and bottom walls are directly joined to each other at their peripheries. f

4. A device according to claim 1 in which said top and bottom walls are connected to each other intermediate their peripheries to form communicating compartments wi thin said chamber.

5. A device according to claim 4 in which a substantially upright wall of flexible transparent material forms an intermediate connection between the top and bottom wall.

6. A-device according to claim 4 in which said top and bottom walls are directly joined to each other along lines spaced apart from their peripheral connections.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,596,309 5/52 Urich 296-137 2,639,442 5/53 Herzog 5-112 2,747,651 5/56 Lighter 156292 X 3,023,753 3/62 Wheless 128372 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. GEORGE L. BREHM, Examineri 

1. A DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A SUN-BATHER COMPRISING SPACED TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL, SAID TOP WALL BEING OF TRANSPARENT MATERIAL AND SAID BOTTOM WALL HAVING A REFLECTIVE UPPER SURFACE, SAID WALLS BEING CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER AT THEIR PERIPHERIES TO FORM A SEALED CHAMBER, THE SPACING OF SAID WALLS BEING EFFECTED BY INFLATION OF SAID CHAMBER. 